Sunday, May 27, 2007

Q. I want to spec BATTLESTAR, LOST or ENTOURAGE. These scripts are hard to find online. Can I contact the production office of these shows? Writers offices? The network? How do I get contact information? Are they open to sending scripts to non-represented writers? Do you have to send money for postage? Is it a problem I am outside of LA?

You've got the right idea: before you spec, read as many of the produced scripts of the show as you can get your eyes on.

You get the number of the production office by calling the main number for the studio (which you can get from 411) and asking for the production office.

However, I would be stunned if anyone at a production office or writer's office has the time to email anyone a script, let alone actually copy and mail one, and they'd probably get in trouble with the network if they did.

The best place to read current scripts is the Writer's Guild Library at 7000 West Third Street at Fairfax Avenue in LA.

Or you can try my handy list of websites that carry downloadable scripts. And check out this post and this post for other online and real world links.

Now, that said, there are various scripts floating around on the Interwebs (not necessarily Battlestar). The trick is just knowing who the people who are hooked up with the scripts that are floating around. Many of them are ambitious assistants at TV production companies and agencies who share the best material with each other. I don't know how you get hooked up with them. But maybe try the relevant Television without Pity forum?

Labels: spec scripts, writing resources

10:50 AM

5 Comments:

I can already tell you nobody is giving you a Battlestar. They are extremely tight with the scripts, even the ones that have already been produced. I know some of the writers personally and they won't even give me a script.

By  Emily Blake, at 11:24 AM  

Alex, thank you for responding to my question and once again proving to be an incredible guide in the world of screenwriting. I will exhaust all the options you presented to acquire produced scripts (though I can't visit the WGA library since I'm in FL). However, if as Emily says, Battlestar scripts are impossible to come by- how can I find a way to conform to the show's structure, voice, sets, etc. without produced scripts? Analyze the heck out of my dvds, maybe trying to transcribe dialogue and form the script around that as an exercise? Or abandon the Battlestar story I am yearning to write?

By  David, at 5:01 PM  

There are some 2003 era Battlestar scripts on ebay. As w/ any ebay deal, be very careful.

If you can't get them any other way, it might be an option.

By  odocoileus, at 7:46 PM  

You can definitely get lucky by contacting a production. I cold-called the offices of Sports Night, early in its 2nd year, and a very nice Writer's Assistant sent me two scripts in the mail.

Some Lost scripts are available at PlanetMegamall.com.

But David, I'm sure you can write a BSG without having physically seen a shooting script. Almost everything is there on the screen-- voices, pace, act structure, plot structure, etc. Plus, the people who would be reading your spec likely wouldn't have seen an actual BSG script either. If it really feels like the show, it will do its job. Right?

By  Jennica, at 5:58 PM  

Lost? How would you write a spec? How would you write a stand-alone episode?

By  tnt, at 10:00 PM  

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